MS Shanker Mohan Bhupathy, former selector, speaks out: No more experiments, we need results In the wake of the state CID’s recent crackdown on the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), a long-overdue clean-up operation finally seems to be underway. The arrests of three HCA officials, including the sitting President, in connection with the IPL ticketing scam…
MS Shanker In yet another twist to the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s (HCA) continuing saga of controversy, Acting President Sardar Daljit Singh and Joint Secretary Basavaraju find themselves under a cloud. The duo, part of the “leftover” Apex Council after the arrest of three key office-bearers — President, Secretary, and Treasurer — are now accused of…
MS Shanker The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been plunged into fresh controversy after several club secretaries questioned the legality and propriety of a series of decisions taken by the current Apex Council. The criticism follows the suspension of HCA President G. R. Jaganmohan Rao, Secretary Devraj Ramachandran, and Treasurer C.J. Srinivas Rao—all arrested in…
Arshad Ayub: From Test Cricketer to Alleged Architect of Corruption MS Shanker (Editor’s Note: Following receipt of a legal notice from former Indian Test cricketer and ex-HCA President Arshad Ayub, this article has been revised. Certain portions have been removed or modified to avoid misinterpretation. A corrigendum has also been issued immediately after receipt of…
MS Shanker It’s not every day that you see Asaduddin Owaisi and Arnab Goswami on the same page. But when it comes to the sentiment that India must not play cricket with Pakistan—leave alone in a marquee tournament like the Asia Cup—the nation is speaking with one voice, from expected and unexpected quarters alike. Owaisi,…
A Forgotten Keeper’s Grief, and a Game in Ruins MS Shanker In my ongoing journey to uncover the root causes of Hyderabad cricket’s freefall—and more importantly, to spotlight voices that offer serious, constructive solutions—I caught up this week with a voice not often heard, but one that certainly deserves to be. Meet Youraj Singh, now…
In a functioning democracy, every political party has the right to contest or boycott an election. But when that boycott is threatened not in protest of injustice but seemingly to shield a legacy of electoral malpractice, it raises serious concerns about intent, integrity, and commitment to the Constitution. That’s exactly what appears to be happening…
MS Shanker The circus at the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) shows no sign of stopping. With its credibility in tatters and governance in chaos, the latest bombshell comes in the form of a searing letter from a club member—a parent, no less—calling out corruption, cover-ups, and cartelisation that are choking the sport. This letter, from…
Clubs, Cronies and Corruption: Anatomy of HCA’s Collapse By MS Shanker As promised, this week’s episode focuses on the root causes behind the tragic, systematic, and largely self-inflicted decline of Hyderabad cricket. At the heart of this rot lie two unholy forces: a cartel of affiliated clubs and a coterie of self-serving former cricketers who,…
MS Shanker In yet another controversial twist, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) today witnessed what many are calling a farcical continuation of its so-called “adjourned” Annual General Meeting (AGM). The meeting, which lasted under six minutes, has raised serious questions about its legality, transparency, and intent. Legal experts and HCA insiders point out that the…
